A Family Court judge awarded Rep. John Atkins joint custody of his children Friday after a hearing over a protection order filed by his wife nearly two weeks ago.
Proceedings over the protection order remained open despite Atkins’s wife Heather petitioning the court to seal all documents and hearings related to the issue.
Both sides agreed to delay further hearings and merge them, as Atkins also filed a protection order against his wife three days after hers was approved.
In it, Atkins claims she threatened to kill their two children last summer when she said they did not love her. She also allegedly threw objects at him, scratched him and verbally abused him.
Heather Atkins countered that her husband’s behavior was becoming “erratic” and had in the past driven away from their home following an argument with a shotgun and shells.
Each side declined to comment after the hearing.
They two will share custody of their children until the next hearing July 3rd at Sussex County Family Court.